In the park after school, Jamie struggles to explain his primary immunodeficiency to friends Liza and Marco. IGI comes to his rescue.

In a flash of blue light, IGI transforms from a small toy into a giant blue bear. He takes the children through a magic portal into the human body – a theme park teeming with happy cells. When a bad bacteria causes trouble, antibody security guards quickly round him up.

IGI takes the children to see what happens in someone with PID, like Jamie. Many of the antibodies are missing. Jamie explains he has to avoid some activities to stay healthy. Liza understands – she has a peanut allergy, and Marco announces he has asthma.

Meanwhile, bacteria have invaded the park. The children must get to the guard tower to release more antibodies. Just in time, they open the tower and a wave of antibodies save the day.

The 2D animation is entirely hand drawn, comped together in After Effects. The style was chosen to fit with popular animations found on children’s TV, with a bright, positive, fun feel to it. Creating convincing movement and action sequences for cell characters and organs in a theme park, whilst keeping them true to how they really work in the body was a challenge, but a welcome one.

Working with a scientific advisor allowed us to make a richer world, with nods to real organs, immune cells, and bodily functions hidden in the background so that while younger children can focus on the action, older children and even adults can catch on to the anatomical in-jokes.

In the UK, pharma companies cannot promote prescription drugs or products to consumers. This piece does not promote a prescription-only product and functions as an education and engagement piece for young patients, their families and the general public. It adheres to the ABPI Code of Practice.

Paediatric patients with immunodeficiency aged, and their siblings, schoolmates, teachers and general public.

Part of a wider support programme, this film was made to share with people around each patient, especially other children (e.g. through school), creating a community that understands the patient’s condition and can adapt to their needs.